Page 20 of Shadows of You

“Seems to be eating and drinking just fine.” A hint of a smile played on her glossy lips. “She loves the treats she gets the medicine in.”

I grunted. “You’re not going into the stall too much, are you?”

That smile dropped away, and I wanted to kick myself.

Grae glared at me. “Aspen knows what she’s doing. She’s been helping injured animals for years now.”

I didn’t say a word.

Grae huffed, turning back to Aspen. “Come on. I’ll give you a tour of the house, and we can leave Mr. Grizz to brood.”

I glared at my sister. The last thing I needed was for my family to pick up on Cady’s ridiculous nickname.

“I’ll come,” Wren said, struggling to her feet.

“Me, too,” Maddie echoed as she extricated herself from Nash’s hold.

Aspen sought out Cady. “You okay with Charlie?”

The girl nodded, only half-paying attention to her mother.

My mom sent Aspen a reassuring smile from the kitchen. “I’ll keep an eye on them.”

“Thanks,” Aspen said, but Grae was already dragging her off.

Once they disappeared, Nash turned his focus to me again. “Mr. Grizz, huh?”

“Shut up,” I muttered.

“You know we’re never letting that one go,” Holt echoed.

My thirteen-year-old nephew, Drew, flopped into an overstuffed armchair next to me. “Putting the moves on Ms. Barlow, huh? Respect. She’s smokin’.” He held out a fist for me to bump.

I simply stared at him.

“Drew…” Lawson warned. “That’s not how we talk about women.”

“Come on, Dad, no disrespect. I’m just spittin’ the truth, bruh.”

“Well, let’s tone down that truth-spittin’,bruh.”

Nash chuckled. “I don’t know. I’m happy the kid wants to hit on someone who isn’t Maddie.”

Drew grinned. “Naw, Mads will always be my girl.”

The amusement fled Nash’s face. “Donottry to steal my nickname.”

Drew’s grin only widened. “Come on, Uncle Nash. You scared of a little competition?”

Nash launched off the couch and Drew flipped over the chair to escape him, cackling as he dodged his uncle.

Lawson just shook his head. “I swear they’re both thirteen.”

Holt’s gaze turned my way. “What happened last night?”

I fought the urge to squirm in my chair. “Nothing. Just a typical callout.”

That was far from the truth. Nothing about last night had felt routine. The green eyes that had haunted my dreams hadn’t either. But this wasn’t the first time I’d lied to my family. And it wouldn’t be the last.

---